For the fourth consecutive season, the ECAC will have a first-time lacrosse champion. For a conference in its final go-around, it’s a fitting end. And for Air Force and Fairfield teams that have been building toward this point for more than a decade, the path could end in an NCAA Tournament berth.

In the first Semifinal, junior middie Colin McLinden scored a career-high four goals as the top-seeded Stags broke open a goalie battle in the fourth quarter for a 12-5 win as the top-seed in the ECAC's first semifinal. Fairfield goalie Jack Murphy and Michigan goalie Robbie Zonino each registered 15 saves.

Three takeaway’s from Fairfield’s win

Michigan didn’t have enough offense, and Fairfield took advantage of that offensively. Wolverine assistant Ryan Danehy tweeted postgame that coaching 30-point scorer Ian King was a career-first; King finished with two goals. The Fox Sports 2 broadcast spotlighted senior middie Thomas Paras as a leader offensively (he ends the season with 28 points), but he was held scoreless. Highly touted recruits Riley Kennedy and Brendan Gaughan each tallied goals, as did starting attackman David McCormack.

It adds up to a third-year program that transitioned from the club ranks and shows the seeds of building are there, but don’t yet translate to postseason wins.

At the other end of the field, Fairfield was content — especially in the first half — to turn Michigan’s offensive paucity (and quick-sliding defense) into very long offensive possessions, dominating the ball at points through a close first two-and-a-half quarters of the game. Down the stretch, Michigan started doubling with Zonino out of the cage and Fairfield converted three open-net goals.

Jack Murphy answered Michigan’s hot goalie. Zonino took over as starter in the preseason when it was decided that last year’s standout starter Gerald Logan would redshirt to have his shoulder surgically repaired. He emerged as a serviceable starter, but ends the year with a 46.4%. Thursday, though, he played inspired; he played a way that essentially give Michigan its only chance to win, and Stags’ senior keeper, who’s stopped 54.5% this year, answered the bell, matching Zonino stop for stop.

Fairfield’s veteran offense stepped up late. Coach Andy Copelan attributed his team’s success to the play of junior attackmen McLinden (a converted middie) and Tristan Sperry, who he said brought both speed and two-handedness to their play behind the goal. They accounted for seven points in the win and presented matchup issues throughout the contest.